My guest for this episode is Sandor Katz, author of Wild Fermentation, The Art of Fermentation, and The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved. If you’ve practiced any kind of fermentation and went looking for a recipe, reference, or just read about the wee yeasties and bacteria that transform our foods with their microbial magic, then you’ve probably read something by Sandor, and I recommend reading even more.

His books, like what he shares in this interview, are filled with passionate personal presentations, balanced with a reservation towards any claim or information that sounds too good to be true. Can fermented foods change your life? Yes, but not in a miraculous way. What they will do is change your relationship to food, health, the cycles of the world, and the context of your diet.

You can find out more about Sandor at his website, wildfermentation.com, and all of his books are available through Chelsea Green Publishing. If you are interested in picking up those books use the links in the show notes as a small portion of your purchase goes towards supporting the podcast.

If you are wondering how to make fermented foods, pick up a copy of Wild Fermentation and begin reading. As soon as you encounter something that sounds interesting, try it. Make a small batch. A pint, a liter, a half gallon. However you want to measure it, start somewhere. You have the accumulated knowledge of hundreds of generations behind you. You can do this. The bacteria and yeast want to help you make delicious, wonderful foods. Go for it.

You might just be surprised what you learn about food, and yourself.

If along the way you have successes, failures, or questions you want to share, get in touch with me. Call: 717-827-6266 or email: show@thepermaculturepodcast.com.

Up next week on December 3 Brad Lancaster returns to share his work the the Desert Harvesters and collecting water in an urban environment. December 10, Jereme Zimmerman continues the fermentation conversation when we talk about Making Mead like a Viking. The last interview of the year comes out on December 17, and is with Taj Scicluna, better known by many as The Perma Pixie. She got up early to talk with me about the current state of Permaculture in the world.